“The money is vital for the continued success of the charity,” Lesley said.

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to research on the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer and is the largest single funder of cancer research in the UK.

The charity supports research in all aspects of the disease through the work of more than 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses across the UK who have contributed to 19 of the top 20 drugs used to treat cancer patients worldwide today.

Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work, funded entirely by the public, will help ensure that millions more people will survive.